Bang!
Fists and palms collided, emitting a muffled thunderous roar.
A surge of wind gusted out, ruffling the flying hair of the three beautiful women.
Lin Fan's brows tightened, and he immediately took a step back.
He glanced at his reddened palm, filled with astonishment. This punch was truly damn powerful!
The bodyguard who threw the punch was even more surprised. This kid actually blocked it?
"Zheng Ke, no disrespect! Who told you to act?" Zheng Yue reprimanded, her face ashen.
"Xiao Fan, are you alright?"
Tian Mengyao grabbed Lin Fan's hand. Seeing his palm was red, she was so heartbroken she almost shed tears.
"I'm fine."
Lin Fan looked at the bodyguard.
Although the man was not burly, his muscles were firm and well-defined, covering his entire body.
Especially his limbs, the muscle fibers were incredibly resilient, like long-trained steel ropes, exuding an unimaginable visual impact.
His elbows and knees bore thick calluses, crisscrossed with countless tiny scars, clearly the result of years of practicing hard qigong.
"Yes, Miss."
Zheng Ke was born in Siam and had been practicing Muay Thai since the age of eight.
Muay Thai was a widely popular combat art in Siam, renowned for its swiftness, ferocity, and lethal power. Its primary attack methods utilized fists, elbows, knees, and legs, hence it was also called the "Art of Eight Limbs."
Zheng Ke, originally named Nai Chai, was sent to a boxing gym to learn to fight from a young age due to his family's poverty.
In Siam, Muay Thai matches were akin to gambling.
Zheng Ke's father was lazy and a habitual drunkard, while his mother was timid and indecisive. The entire family relied on farming for a living, often struggling to make ends meet.
Fighting was his only way out.
He stepped onto the ring at eight, engaging in life-or-death battles with children two or three years older than him.
Spectators were electrified, and even the children's parents cheered from below: "Beat him to death! Hook punch! Elbow strike! Knee thrust! Oh yeah~ Beautiful!"
Every time he entered the ring, regardless of the outcome, he earned one hundred baht.
If he won, there was a thousand baht prize money, plus a certain percentage of the wagers.
Consequently, no one truly cared about the lives of these children. The spectators only cared about their own winnings and losses, and so did the parents.
According to big data surveys, the average lifespan of a Muay Thai fighter was less than fifty.
This was no secret; Zheng Ke knew it from a young age.
But he had no choice.
Facing opponents older, stronger, and more experienced in combat, he had to be fiercer, more ruthless, and more desperate to survive.
He had to win, always win!
Only by doing so could he change his destiny, escape poverty, drugs, and gangs, and gain the right to live freely under the sun.
Undoubtedly, he was fortunate.
With his exceptional talent and strong character, he became a young boxing champion at eighteen.
Then, the Zheng family found him and tasked him with protecting their descendants.
To Zheng Yue, Zheng Ke was merely a minor figure.
However, to Zheng Ke, this was a monumental stroke of luck.
The Zheng family had always been an unreachable entity in his eyes.
Therefore, he retired from the ring and became a bodyguard for the Zheng family.
Later, due to his excellent performance, the patriarch bestowed upon him the honor of bearing the surname Zheng.
In Siam, the surname Zheng was of imperial Han origin. Overjoyed, he spent considerable effort and hired a scholar to give him the given name "Ke."
The meaning of "Ke" was simple: invincible, unstoppable in battle!
Tian Mengyao trembled with anger. "What do you want? If you intend to bully us with your status, we'll fight you to the end!"
Zheng Yue felt apologetic. "I apologize. My subordinate acted on his own accord. I apologize on his behalf."
"Is an apology useful?"
Tian Mengyao was so angry she felt like crying.
Zheng Ke, seeing someone yelling at his Miss, clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.
Zheng Yue glared at him and then spoke a sentence in Thai, after which he finally sat down.
The secretary stood by, unsure of what to do, fearing he might jeopardize the important task assigned by the patriarch.
"Miss, let's sit down and talk."
"Okay."
After sitting down, Zheng Yue introduced herself. "My name is Zheng Yue. You can call me Miss Zheng, or Ms. Zheng."
Her attitude seemed to have improved considerably.
However, Lin Fan still found her too arrogant.
"Miss Zheng, has no one told you that your subordinate's punch could easily kill someone?"
Lin Fan remained standing, looking down at Zheng Yue.
Zheng Yue shook her head. "In Siam, human lives are not worth much. My subordinates always prioritize my safety, and other considerations might be overlooked."
Lin Fan gestured towards the window, reminding her, "This is China. You must conduct yourselves according to China's rules."
"Honestly, if it weren't necessary, I would never want to come to this damned place."
Zheng Yue looked up, gazing disdainfully at Lin Fan, and added, "Everything here is worse than some places in Siam, and it's dry and dusty."
"Has no one taught you any manners?"
Lin Fan was also trembling with anger.
No matter how poor or dilapidated Shimen Town was, it was his home. And to say it was worse than Siam was simply too insulting!
Zheng Ke, seeing Lin Fan's anger, ignored Zheng Yue's order and stepped forward again. "Kid, show some respect."
He flicked his wrist, his fists clenching with a cracking sound.
He tilted his head, and a series of sharp cracks emanated from his spine, truly intimidating.
Lin Fan's anger flared. He pointed at Zheng Ke and said, "I'll say it again. This is China, not a place for you to run amok!"
"Heh, can't win with fists and feet, so you resort to talking?"
Zheng Ke sneered, mocking Lin Fan in broken Chinese.
"You want a fight? Then I'll give you a fight!"
Lin Fan's rage surged. He was about to make a move.
Tian Mengyao grabbed Lin Fan, saying, "Xiao Fan, let me handle this."
She worried Lin Fan might be at a disadvantage and wanted to use official channels to resolve the issue.
She was determined. Once she used her connections, no matter how big the company or which country they were from, she would make them pay!
"Interesting."
Zheng Yue's face broke into a faint smile. "Are you confident in your skills?"
"My level is average, enough for self-preservation."
Lin Fan said, chin held high.
Zheng Yue stood up, resting her hands on the table, and proposed, "Then I'll have my subordinate spar with you. If Zheng Ke wins, you'll do everything I say. If he loses, you can do as you please, alright?"
Lin Fan thought for a moment and requested, "If I win, I want you to bow and apologize to us, three times."
"Alright!"
Zheng Yue readily agreed.
"Let's find a place."
"Why bother with such trouble? Right here."
Zheng Yue instructed her secretary, "Inform the boss that I'll bear all the losses."
"Yes, Miss."
The secretary hurried to the front desk.
"Zheng Ke!"
Zheng Yue called out. Zheng Ke immediately stood at attention. "Miss, your subordinate will not fail you!"